A New Journey

A new journey and we have crossed the border, literally and figurative.

Germany 8th of May 2007. After our last stay in Holland we drive to Roermond. Close to the border with Germany. Because we take rural roads and on a lot of sandy paths, we have entered Germany very quietly. We enjoyed our first “German” lunch under a 110-year old lime tree.

It is a weird thing to drive around in a different country all of a sudden. Right away I feel Dutch, something I normally don’t think about. It feels like we only just started, while we’re actually are “on tour” for three months.

Our first German conversation is with a nine-year old who talks to us while skating, asking loads of questions, and he is no different than boys of his age in Holland. Stumbling and stammering (from our side) we got through the conversation, hoping we didn’t give him too many weird answers.

In the meanwhile we get a lot of spectators and also smiling faces again that reassures us to go on with a new journey this time in Germany.

Expectation

Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon I see if can arrange a place to stay for the night. Close to the River Ruhr we see a beautiful piece of grassland without a fence. Further down the road we see a man with a tractor. He’s Klaus from Oberbruch, a big man with a beautiful moustache, a big round belly, and a happy smile. He meets every expectation I have about Germans.

Stumbling

I asked him if it’s ok if we would stay the night on the piece of grassland, but he said it’s not his. But he told us he owns a piece of grassland were a couple of horses are already grazing he was busy refilling water. He stumbles over his words when admiring our wagon and he gets all excited. He’s certain that the next farmer has a spot for us.

We’re heading towards that direction when all of a sudden we hear Klaus behind us honking, he wants to offer his own grassland. We turn around yet again and we drive up his grassland.

In genuine “2nd grade German” we tell our story and put the horses and the wagon on the grassland. If all future overnight stays are handled like this, we should be very happy. An amazing journey, a wonderful welcome.

Thea

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